Gas control system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing natural gas supply systems lack efficient and safe control mechanisms with 100% redundancy, particularly when using high-pressure tankers, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the variability in gas pressure and flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A gas supply system with 100% redundancy, utilizing high-pressure tanks, multiple groups of valves, and computing devices that monitor pressure and flow rates, allowing for electronic or manual control to manage gas distribution, pressure regulation, and tank selection, ensuring efficient and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high-pressure tankers are used to supply natural gas, then gas supply capability is improved, but pressure control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pressure control function into multiple independent control valves (first control valve and second control valve) that operate on different pressure tiers. The first control valve handles high-pressure regulation while the second control valve handles low-pressure regulation, allowing each valve to be optimized for its specific pressure range and simplifying the overall control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A intermediate pressure buffer tank is introduced between the high-pressure source and the final distribution system. This buffer tank acts as a mediator that decouples the high-pressure supply from the low-pressure demand, allowing pressure regulation to occur in stages rather than requiring direct control from high to low pressure.
2Reliability
If redundancy is added to ensure 100% safety, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant control system is segmented into two independent parallel pathways, each with its own control valve and monitoring mechanisms. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality through one pathway if the other fails, achieving 100% redundancy without requiring a completely duplicated complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with multi-functional components that can serve both primary and backup roles. The control valves and monitoring systems are configured to handle both normal operation and emergency shutdown functions, reducing the need for entirely separate redundant systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple control valves are used to regulate pressure, then pressure control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure control function is segmented across multiple valves operating at different pressure stages. Each valve is responsible for a specific pressure range, allowing for precise control at each stage while maintaining overall system simplicity through functional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valves are designed to operate continuously across different pressure ranges without interruption. The first control valve maintains high-pressure regulation while the second control valve maintains low-pressure regulation, ensuring continuous precise control throughout the pressure reduction process.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a high-pressure tank, a controller, a valve, controlled by the controller, and a heater.